Capt David Fox's connection to Saint Mary's White Chapel:
1661: General Vestry of Lancaster county, Virginia, included David Fox;
also David Fox was a court appointed church warden
1669: Gift of chalice in the form of a solid silver goblet inscribed: "The gift of David Fox, 1669."
22 Jul 1670: married Hannah Ball, daughter of Col. Willliam Ball and Hannah (Atherold) Ball
1702: Gift of two of four tablets to St. Mary's by David Fox
SOURCE: Colonial Churches; A Series of Sketches of Churches in the Original Colony of VA, with Pictures of Each Church (ISBN: 9780217461054), Unknown Author
ST. MARY'S WHITE CHAPEL, LANCASTER COUNTY, VA
BY MRS. ELIZABETH LEWIS NEALE.
The earliest records of Lancaster County Parish, when Lancaster and Middlesex were one, go back to 1650. In that year the court appointed Rev. Samuel Cole the minister of the whole county, on both sides of the Rappahannock river. This minister's name appears on a Vestry Book of Middlesex county, Virginia, in 1664. The court also appointed church wardens and sidemen, as in the English Church, for each side of the river; they were John Taylor, William Chapman, John Merryman, Edmund Lurin, George Kibble and William Leech. Other names on the record are Thomas and Cuthbert Powell, Edward Digges, William Berkeley, Robert Chowning, Henry Corbin, DAVID FOX and John Washington of Westmoreland county.
In the year 1661 a general vestry was formed, and John Carter, Henry Corbin, DAVID FOX and Wm Leech were appointed, from both sides of the river, to take up subscriptions for the support of a minister. Many of our county records and the Vestry Book of St. Mary's and Christ churches were destroyed during the war "between the States," and we find no one who can tell us just the year old St. Mary's White Chapel was built; but of this we are sure, that it was sometime in the middle of the 17th century. This is assured by dates on the Communion plate, still in the church, and on tombstones to be found in a good state of preservation in the churchyard. Bishop Meade, from whom notes are herein taken, states in his book of "Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia," that "the first church was torn down and the present one built in 1740." One might infer from this that the whole church "was torn down," which was not the case at all. It was first built, like her contemporary, Old Christ church, in the lower part of the county (or rather Old Christ was built like St. Mary's, for we are assured that St. Mary's is the older) in the form of a cross, with three galleries, one owned by Major James Ball and Mr. Joseph Ball; one by the Downmans, of Belle Isle, and one was for the slaves of the Churchmen. In 1739 the old church was in great need of a new roof and other repairs, and the congregation being at that time unable or unwilling to raise the large sum of money required, determined to take down two arms of the church and restore the rest. This was done in 1740, the contract being awarded Mr. James Jones. The structure was then made into an oblong square, 60 feet long, 30 feet broad, walls 24 feet to roof, which has an oval ceiling. The pulpit is in one end of the long aisle, facing the south door, over which is the one remaining gallery. In the center of the long aisle is a broader one leading to the double doors facing the west, towards the county road, which is the main entrance. These doors are fastened now, as in olden time, by an iron thumb latch.
The high pews and the pulpit, which had a stairway leading up to it, with a banister rail, were allowed to stand until prior to the Civil War, in the middle of the 19th century, when the pews were cut down, the high pulpit not being removed until 1882. In that year the old tablets were brought down from the gallery, where they had been laid in the dust, and restored at a cost of $100. Rev. H. L. Derby, then rector of the parish, was very active in having this done. They are four in number. Two contain the Ten Commandments and were the gift of DAVID FOX in 1702. The other two were given by his son, William Fox, and contain the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. There is no date inscribed on these, but they were given in 1717, as shown by the will of Captain William Fox, dated 1717, and in which he directed: "My wife shall send for the Lord's Prayer and Creed, well drawn in gold letters, and my name under each of them, set in decent black frames, as a gift to St. Mary's White Chapel"; and he also left by his will to that church "the font that came in that year." That the wife carried out the will to the letter is proven by the tablets and font in the church, in splendid preservation to this day. The tablets are of solid walnut wood and the letters are hand-carved, cut in, and heavily gilded in gold gilt. They are oval at the top, with the square base, in keeping with the deep-seated windows and oval ceiling. The font, of unpolished marble, stands on a square base, which is exceedingly heavy, from which a round marble pedestal supports on its top the very large, round marble basin, all of which stands 4 feet 6 inches. The chalice is a solid silver goblet inscribed: "The gift of DAVID FOX, 1669."
George Spencer, by his will, dated March 23, 1691, gave 20 pounds sterling for a piece of communion plate for St. Mary's White Chapel, and also a "Curpice." The only other piece of silver in possession of the church is a small silver salver, which is used with the goblet. It is much worn by age and has no inscription or date, but we suppose that it is "that piece of plate."
The old Bible was given by Rawleigh Downman, of Belle Isle, in 1838. The beautiful circular Communion railing remains as in olden days, but the brick aisles have been planked and carpeted, as has the chancel, and fitted up with modern furniture. The old Communion table is still in the vestry room. It once stood in the chancel, and was covered with a green velvet cover with a gilt fringe, and in the center was the Ball coat-of-arms in bas-relief and done in gilt. This was sold years ago to one of the Downmans, whose maternal ancestor was a Ball.
In the churchyard are a number of old tombs of a massive marble, of the oldest are inscribed with the name of Ball. The first is David Ball, 7th son of William Ball, born 1686; some of the others are Mildred Ball, Juduthum Ball, Mary Ann Ball, daughter of Rev. John Bertrand, Jesse Ball, Mary Ball, d/o Edwin Conway, and James Ball, her husband; Fanny, daughter of Rawleigh Downman, of Lettuce, 3rd wife of James Ball and daughter of Richard Lee, of Ditchley.
These names show that this church counted among her numbers names of the old Virginia aristocrats of the 17th and 18th centuries. Among the Churchmen of the 18th century we will mention Chinn, Downman, Carter, Ball, Mitchell, Lee, Lewis, Ewell, McCarty, Towles, Chowning, Sneade, Pierce, Robinson and Chilton. The ministers were Rev. Samuel Cole, died 1659; Revs. William White and Benjamin Doggett, died 1682; John Bertrand, died 1701 (he was a Huguenot, is buried at Belle Isle, and counted among his descendants Judge Cyrus Griffith, last president of the Continental Congress); Andrew Jackson, died 1710; John Bell, died 1743; David Currie, died 1792; David Ball, died 1791. Then followed Leland, Page, McNorton, Low, 1832; Ephraim Adams, 1838; Francis McGuire, 1839; Rev. Bryant, 1844; Rev. Richmond, 1850; Rev. Nash, 1853; Rev. Edmund Withers. These were followed by Revs. George May, H. L. Derby, E. B. Burwell, Mr. Micou and the present rector, Rev. L. R. Combs.
In the corner of the churchyard is an old slab, flat on the ground and much broken, inscribed: "To Rev. Jno. Stritchley [sic-Stretchly], born 1669." Then follows a long illegible inscription. We have no record of his having served the church. Col. William Ball, who came to this county from England in 1650, settled at the mouth of the Corrotoman River, bringing his family. He died in 1669, leaving two sons and one daughter, Hannah, who married Daniel [sic DAVID] FOX. William left eight sons. Joseph Ieft no male issue, but Genl George Washington is his grandson by his youngest daughter, Mary. Mary Ball, grandmother of Washington, lies buried at "Epping Forest," five miles from the church, and a handsome oil picture of her adorns the walls of the court-room at Lancaster, the county seat. None of Col. William Ball's children are buried at the church, but his grandchildren and their descendants [are]. Joseph Ball married a Miss Ravenscroft, of England, and settled in London. He was brother of Mary Ball, who was the mother of Washington. His only daughter, Fannie, married Raleigh Downman in 1750. Her children were Joseph Ball Downman, of Morattico; Fannie, who married Col. James Ball, of Beaudley, and Mr. Raleigh Downman, of Belle Isle.
Mr. Joseph Ball wrote to his nephew, Geo Washington, after Braddock's defeat, the following letter:
Stratford, 5th of Sept., 1755.
It is a sensible pleasure to me to hear that you have behaved with such a martial spirit, in all your engagements with the French, nigh Ohio. Go on as you have begun, and God prosper you. We have heard of Gen. Braddock's defeat. Everybody blames his rash conduct. Everybody commends the courage of the Virginians and Carolina men, which is very agreeable to me. I desire you, as you may have opportunity, to give me a short account how you proceed. I am your mother's -brother. I hope you will not deny my request. I heartily wish you good success, and am
Your loving uncle,
joseph Ball
To Major George Washington, at the Falls of Rappahannock, 0r elsewhere in Virginia.
Please direct me at Stratford-by-Bow, nigh London.
Unlike most Colonial churches, St. Mary's did not suffer by the depredation of troops during the war 1861-5. The Federal gunboats came up the Rappahanock river, near where the church is located, and threw bomb shells over and around, cutting off the tree tops, but did not hit the church. A company of the Ninth VA Calvary, CSA, were stationed at the church for a few months in 1861, and had tents all around the church. Col. Merriwether Lewis was then captain, with Mr. Robert Tunstall Pierce as first lieutenant, and James K. Ball, of Beaudley, as second lieutenant. The three are today "sleeping" near each other in the churchyard, resting "on the old camp ground," and each has a monument to show the reverence and love the living bear to the honored dead.
In 1880 the church ladies organized a society called "The Bee Hive," and since that time have raised nearly a $1000, which has been spent on the church. Today both the interior and exterior present a neat and comfortable appearance, and to "the faithful few" who worship within her walls she seems
"A spot of earth supremely blest, Dearer, more sacred than all the rest."
1661: General Vestry of Lancaster county, Virginia, included David Fox;
also David Fox was a court appointed church warden
1669: Gift of chalice in the form of a solid silver goblet inscribed: "The gift of David Fox, 1669."
22 Jul 1670: married Hannah Ball, daughter of Col. Willliam Ball and Hannah (Atherold) Ball
1702: Gift of two of four tablets to St. Mary's by David Fox
SOURCE: Colonial Churches; A Series of Sketches of Churches in the Original Colony of VA, with Pictures of Each Church (ISBN: 9780217461054), Unknown Author
ST. MARY'S WHITE CHAPEL, LANCASTER COUNTY, VA
BY MRS. ELIZABETH LEWIS NEALE.
The earliest records of Lancaster County Parish, when Lancaster and Middlesex were one, go back to 1650. In that year the court appointed Rev. Samuel Cole the minister of the whole county, on both sides of the Rappahannock river. This minister's name appears on a Vestry Book of Middlesex county, Virginia, in 1664. The court also appointed church wardens and sidemen, as in the English Church, for each side of the river; they were John Taylor, William Chapman, John Merryman, Edmund Lurin, George Kibble and William Leech. Other names on the record are Thomas and Cuthbert Powell, Edward Digges, William Berkeley, Robert Chowning, Henry Corbin, DAVID FOX and John Washington of Westmoreland county.
In the year 1661 a general vestry was formed, and John Carter, Henry Corbin, DAVID FOX and Wm Leech were appointed, from both sides of the river, to take up subscriptions for the support of a minister. Many of our county records and the Vestry Book of St. Mary's and Christ churches were destroyed during the war "between the States," and we find no one who can tell us just the year old St. Mary's White Chapel was built; but of this we are sure, that it was sometime in the middle of the 17th century. This is assured by dates on the Communion plate, still in the church, and on tombstones to be found in a good state of preservation in the churchyard. Bishop Meade, from whom notes are herein taken, states in his book of "Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia," that "the first church was torn down and the present one built in 1740." One might infer from this that the whole church "was torn down," which was not the case at all. It was first built, like her contemporary, Old Christ church, in the lower part of the county (or rather Old Christ was built like St. Mary's, for we are assured that St. Mary's is the older) in the form of a cross, with three galleries, one owned by Major James Ball and Mr. Joseph Ball; one by the Downmans, of Belle Isle, and one was for the slaves of the Churchmen. In 1739 the old church was in great need of a new roof and other repairs, and the congregation being at that time unable or unwilling to raise the large sum of money required, determined to take down two arms of the church and restore the rest. This was done in 1740, the contract being awarded Mr. James Jones. The structure was then made into an oblong square, 60 feet long, 30 feet broad, walls 24 feet to roof, which has an oval ceiling. The pulpit is in one end of the long aisle, facing the south door, over which is the one remaining gallery. In the center of the long aisle is a broader one leading to the double doors facing the west, towards the county road, which is the main entrance. These doors are fastened now, as in olden time, by an iron thumb latch.
The high pews and the pulpit, which had a stairway leading up to it, with a banister rail, were allowed to stand until prior to the Civil War, in the middle of the 19th century, when the pews were cut down, the high pulpit not being removed until 1882. In that year the old tablets were brought down from the gallery, where they had been laid in the dust, and restored at a cost of $100. Rev. H. L. Derby, then rector of the parish, was very active in having this done. They are four in number. Two contain the Ten Commandments and were the gift of DAVID FOX in 1702. The other two were given by his son, William Fox, and contain the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. There is no date inscribed on these, but they were given in 1717, as shown by the will of Captain William Fox, dated 1717, and in which he directed: "My wife shall send for the Lord's Prayer and Creed, well drawn in gold letters, and my name under each of them, set in decent black frames, as a gift to St. Mary's White Chapel"; and he also left by his will to that church "the font that came in that year." That the wife carried out the will to the letter is proven by the tablets and font in the church, in splendid preservation to this day. The tablets are of solid walnut wood and the letters are hand-carved, cut in, and heavily gilded in gold gilt. They are oval at the top, with the square base, in keeping with the deep-seated windows and oval ceiling. The font, of unpolished marble, stands on a square base, which is exceedingly heavy, from which a round marble pedestal supports on its top the very large, round marble basin, all of which stands 4 feet 6 inches. The chalice is a solid silver goblet inscribed: "The gift of DAVID FOX, 1669."
George Spencer, by his will, dated March 23, 1691, gave 20 pounds sterling for a piece of communion plate for St. Mary's White Chapel, and also a "Curpice." The only other piece of silver in possession of the church is a small silver salver, which is used with the goblet. It is much worn by age and has no inscription or date, but we suppose that it is "that piece of plate."
The old Bible was given by Rawleigh Downman, of Belle Isle, in 1838. The beautiful circular Communion railing remains as in olden days, but the brick aisles have been planked and carpeted, as has the chancel, and fitted up with modern furniture. The old Communion table is still in the vestry room. It once stood in the chancel, and was covered with a green velvet cover with a gilt fringe, and in the center was the Ball coat-of-arms in bas-relief and done in gilt. This was sold years ago to one of the Downmans, whose maternal ancestor was a Ball.
In the churchyard are a number of old tombs of a massive marble, of the oldest are inscribed with the name of Ball. The first is David Ball, 7th son of William Ball, born 1686; some of the others are Mildred Ball, Juduthum Ball, Mary Ann Ball, daughter of Rev. John Bertrand, Jesse Ball, Mary Ball, d/o Edwin Conway, and James Ball, her husband; Fanny, daughter of Rawleigh Downman, of Lettuce, 3rd wife of James Ball and daughter of Richard Lee, of Ditchley.
These names show that this church counted among her numbers names of the old Virginia aristocrats of the 17th and 18th centuries. Among the Churchmen of the 18th century we will mention Chinn, Downman, Carter, Ball, Mitchell, Lee, Lewis, Ewell, McCarty, Towles, Chowning, Sneade, Pierce, Robinson and Chilton. The ministers were Rev. Samuel Cole, died 1659; Revs. William White and Benjamin Doggett, died 1682; John Bertrand, died 1701 (he was a Huguenot, is buried at Belle Isle, and counted among his descendants Judge Cyrus Griffith, last president of the Continental Congress); Andrew Jackson, died 1710; John Bell, died 1743; David Currie, died 1792; David Ball, died 1791. Then followed Leland, Page, McNorton, Low, 1832; Ephraim Adams, 1838; Francis McGuire, 1839; Rev. Bryant, 1844; Rev. Richmond, 1850; Rev. Nash, 1853; Rev. Edmund Withers. These were followed by Revs. George May, H. L. Derby, E. B. Burwell, Mr. Micou and the present rector, Rev. L. R. Combs.
In the corner of the churchyard is an old slab, flat on the ground and much broken, inscribed: "To Rev. Jno. Stritchley [sic-Stretchly], born 1669." Then follows a long illegible inscription. We have no record of his having served the church. Col. William Ball, who came to this county from England in 1650, settled at the mouth of the Corrotoman River, bringing his family. He died in 1669, leaving two sons and one daughter, Hannah, who married Daniel [sic DAVID] FOX. William left eight sons. Joseph Ieft no male issue, but Genl George Washington is his grandson by his youngest daughter, Mary. Mary Ball, grandmother of Washington, lies buried at "Epping Forest," five miles from the church, and a handsome oil picture of her adorns the walls of the court-room at Lancaster, the county seat. None of Col. William Ball's children are buried at the church, but his grandchildren and their descendants [are]. Joseph Ball married a Miss Ravenscroft, of England, and settled in London. He was brother of Mary Ball, who was the mother of Washington. His only daughter, Fannie, married Raleigh Downman in 1750. Her children were Joseph Ball Downman, of Morattico; Fannie, who married Col. James Ball, of Beaudley, and Mr. Raleigh Downman, of Belle Isle.
Mr. Joseph Ball wrote to his nephew, Geo Washington, after Braddock's defeat, the following letter:
Stratford, 5th of Sept., 1755.
It is a sensible pleasure to me to hear that you have behaved with such a martial spirit, in all your engagements with the French, nigh Ohio. Go on as you have begun, and God prosper you. We have heard of Gen. Braddock's defeat. Everybody blames his rash conduct. Everybody commends the courage of the Virginians and Carolina men, which is very agreeable to me. I desire you, as you may have opportunity, to give me a short account how you proceed. I am your mother's -brother. I hope you will not deny my request. I heartily wish you good success, and am
Your loving uncle,
joseph Ball
To Major George Washington, at the Falls of Rappahannock, 0r elsewhere in Virginia.
Please direct me at Stratford-by-Bow, nigh London.
Unlike most Colonial churches, St. Mary's did not suffer by the depredation of troops during the war 1861-5. The Federal gunboats came up the Rappahanock river, near where the church is located, and threw bomb shells over and around, cutting off the tree tops, but did not hit the church. A company of the Ninth VA Calvary, CSA, were stationed at the church for a few months in 1861, and had tents all around the church. Col. Merriwether Lewis was then captain, with Mr. Robert Tunstall Pierce as first lieutenant, and James K. Ball, of Beaudley, as second lieutenant. The three are today "sleeping" near each other in the churchyard, resting "on the old camp ground," and each has a monument to show the reverence and love the living bear to the honored dead.
In 1880 the church ladies organized a society called "The Bee Hive," and since that time have raised nearly a $1000, which has been spent on the church. Today both the interior and exterior present a neat and comfortable appearance, and to "the faithful few" who worship within her walls she seems
"A spot of earth supremely blest, Dearer, more sacred than all the rest."
Capt David Fox's connection to Saint Mary's White Chapel:
1661: General Vestry of Lancaster county, Virginia, included David Fox;
also David Fox was a court appointed church warden
1669: Gift of chalice in the form of a solid silver goblet inscribed: "The gift of David Fox, 1669."
22 Jul 1670: married Hannah Ball, daughter of Col. Willliam Ball and Hannah (Atherold) Ball
1702: Gift of two of four tablets to St. Mary's by David Fox
SOURCE: Colonial Churches; A Series of Sketches of Churches in the Original Colony of VA, with Pictures of Each Church (ISBN: 9780217461054), Unknown Author
ST. MARY'S WHITE CHAPEL, LANCASTER COUNTY, VA
BY MRS. ELIZABETH LEWIS NEALE.
The earliest records of Lancaster County Parish, when Lancaster and Middlesex were one, go back to 1650. In that year the court appointed Rev. Samuel Cole the minister of the whole county, on both sides of the Rappahannock river. This minister's name appears on a Vestry Book of Middlesex county, Virginia, in 1664. The court also appointed church wardens and sidemen, as in the English Church, for each side of the river; they were John Taylor, William Chapman, John Merryman, Edmund Lurin, George Kibble and William Leech. Other names on the record are Thomas and Cuthbert Powell, Edward Digges, William Berkeley, Robert Chowning, Henry Corbin, DAVID FOX and John Washington of Westmoreland county.
In the year 1661 a general vestry was formed, and John Carter, Henry Corbin, DAVID FOX and Wm Leech were appointed, from both sides of the river, to take up subscriptions for the support of a minister. Many of our county records and the Vestry Book of St. Mary's and Christ churches were destroyed during the war "between the States," and we find no one who can tell us just the year old St. Mary's White Chapel was built; but of this we are sure, that it was sometime in the middle of the 17th century. This is assured by dates on the Communion plate, still in the church, and on tombstones to be found in a good state of preservation in the churchyard. Bishop Meade, from whom notes are herein taken, states in his book of "Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia," that "the first church was torn down and the present one built in 1740." One might infer from this that the whole church "was torn down," which was not the case at all. It was first built, like her contemporary, Old Christ church, in the lower part of the county (or rather Old Christ was built like St. Mary's, for we are assured that St. Mary's is the older) in the form of a cross, with three galleries, one owned by Major James Ball and Mr. Joseph Ball; one by the Downmans, of Belle Isle, and one was for the slaves of the Churchmen. In 1739 the old church was in great need of a new roof and other repairs, and the congregation being at that time unable or unwilling to raise the large sum of money required, determined to take down two arms of the church and restore the rest. This was done in 1740, the contract being awarded Mr. James Jones. The structure was then made into an oblong square, 60 feet long, 30 feet broad, walls 24 feet to roof, which has an oval ceiling. The pulpit is in one end of the long aisle, facing the south door, over which is the one remaining gallery. In the center of the long aisle is a broader one leading to the double doors facing the west, towards the county road, which is the main entrance. These doors are fastened now, as in olden time, by an iron thumb latch.
The high pews and the pulpit, which had a stairway leading up to it, with a banister rail, were allowed to stand until prior to the Civil War, in the middle of the 19th century, when the pews were cut down, the high pulpit not being removed until 1882. In that year the old tablets were brought down from the gallery, where they had been laid in the dust, and restored at a cost of $100. Rev. H. L. Derby, then rector of the parish, was very active in having this done. They are four in number. Two contain the Ten Commandments and were the gift of DAVID FOX in 1702. The other two were given by his son, William Fox, and contain the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. There is no date inscribed on these, but they were given in 1717, as shown by the will of Captain William Fox, dated 1717, and in which he directed: "My wife shall send for the Lord's Prayer and Creed, well drawn in gold letters, and my name under each of them, set in decent black frames, as a gift to St. Mary's White Chapel"; and he also left by his will to that church "the font that came in that year." That the wife carried out the will to the letter is proven by the tablets and font in the church, in splendid preservation to this day. The tablets are of solid walnut wood and the letters are hand-carved, cut in, and heavily gilded in gold gilt. They are oval at the top, with the square base, in keeping with the deep-seated windows and oval ceiling. The font, of unpolished marble, stands on a square base, which is exceedingly heavy, from which a round marble pedestal supports on its top the very large, round marble basin, all of which stands 4 feet 6 inches. The chalice is a solid silver goblet inscribed: "The gift of DAVID FOX, 1669."
George Spencer, by his will, dated March 23, 1691, gave 20 pounds sterling for a piece of communion plate for St. Mary's White Chapel, and also a "Curpice." The only other piece of silver in possession of the church is a small silver salver, which is used with the goblet. It is much worn by age and has no inscription or date, but we suppose that it is "that piece of plate."
The old Bible was given by Rawleigh Downman, of Belle Isle, in 1838. The beautiful circular Communion railing remains as in olden days, but the brick aisles have been planked and carpeted, as has the chancel, and fitted up with modern furniture. The old Communion table is still in the vestry room. It once stood in the chancel, and was covered with a green velvet cover with a gilt fringe, and in the center was the Ball coat-of-arms in bas-relief and done in gilt. This was sold years ago to one of the Downmans, whose maternal ancestor was a Ball.
In the churchyard are a number of old tombs of a massive marble, of the oldest are inscribed with the name of Ball. The first is David Ball, 7th son of William Ball, born 1686; some of the others are Mildred Ball, Juduthum Ball, Mary Ann Ball, daughter of Rev. John Bertrand, Jesse Ball, Mary Ball, d/o Edwin Conway, and James Ball, her husband; Fanny, daughter of Rawleigh Downman, of Lettuce, 3rd wife of James Ball and daughter of Richard Lee, of Ditchley.
These names show that this church counted among her numbers names of the old Virginia aristocrats of the 17th and 18th centuries. Among the Churchmen of the 18th century we will mention Chinn, Downman, Carter, Ball, Mitchell, Lee, Lewis, Ewell, McCarty, Towles, Chowning, Sneade, Pierce, Robinson and Chilton. The ministers were Rev. Samuel Cole, died 1659; Revs. William White and Benjamin Doggett, died 1682; John Bertrand, died 1701 (he was a Huguenot, is buried at Belle Isle, and counted among his descendants Judge Cyrus Griffith, last president of the Continental Congress); Andrew Jackson, died 1710; John Bell, died 1743; David Currie, died 1792; David Ball, died 1791. Then followed Leland, Page, McNorton, Low, 1832; Ephraim Adams, 1838; Francis McGuire, 1839; Rev. Bryant, 1844; Rev. Richmond, 1850; Rev. Nash, 1853; Rev. Edmund Withers. These were followed by Revs. George May, H. L. Derby, E. B. Burwell, Mr. Micou and the present rector, Rev. L. R. Combs.
In the corner of the churchyard is an old slab, flat on the ground and much broken, inscribed: "To Rev. Jno. Stritchley [sic-Stretchly], born 1669." Then follows a long illegible inscription. We have no record of his having served the church. Col. William Ball, who came to this county from England in 1650, settled at the mouth of the Corrotoman River, bringing his family. He died in 1669, leaving two sons and one daughter, Hannah, who married Daniel [sic DAVID] FOX. William left eight sons. Joseph Ieft no male issue, but Genl George Washington is his grandson by his youngest daughter, Mary. Mary Ball, grandmother of Washington, lies buried at "Epping Forest," five miles from the church, and a handsome oil picture of her adorns the walls of the court-room at Lancaster, the county seat. None of Col. William Ball's children are buried at the church, but his grandchildren and their descendants [are]. Joseph Ball married a Miss Ravenscroft, of England, and settled in London. He was brother of Mary Ball, who was the mother of Washington. His only daughter, Fannie, married Raleigh Downman in 1750. Her children were Joseph Ball Downman, of Morattico; Fannie, who married Col. James Ball, of Beaudley, and Mr. Raleigh Downman, of Belle Isle.
Mr. Joseph Ball wrote to his nephew, Geo Washington, after Braddock's defeat, the following letter:
Stratford, 5th of Sept., 1755.
It is a sensible pleasure to me to hear that you have behaved with such a martial spirit, in all your engagements with the French, nigh Ohio. Go on as you have begun, and God prosper you. We have heard of Gen. Braddock's defeat. Everybody blames his rash conduct. Everybody commends the courage of the Virginians and Carolina men, which is very agreeable to me. I desire you, as you may have opportunity, to give me a short account how you proceed. I am your mother's -brother. I hope you will not deny my request. I heartily wish you good success, and am
Your loving uncle,
joseph Ball
To Major George Washington, at the Falls of Rappahannock, 0r elsewhere in Virginia.
Please direct me at Stratford-by-Bow, nigh London.
Unlike most Colonial churches, St. Mary's did not suffer by the depredation of troops during the war 1861-5. The Federal gunboats came up the Rappahanock river, near where the church is located, and threw bomb shells over and around, cutting off the tree tops, but did not hit the church. A company of the Ninth VA Calvary, CSA, were stationed at the church for a few months in 1861, and had tents all around the church. Col. Merriwether Lewis was then captain, with Mr. Robert Tunstall Pierce as first lieutenant, and James K. Ball, of Beaudley, as second lieutenant. The three are today "sleeping" near each other in the churchyard, resting "on the old camp ground," and each has a monument to show the reverence and love the living bear to the honored dead.
In 1880 the church ladies organized a society called "The Bee Hive," and since that time have raised nearly a $1000, which has been spent on the church. Today both the interior and exterior present a neat and comfortable appearance, and to "the faithful few" who worship within her walls she seems
"A spot of earth supremely blest, Dearer, more sacred than all the rest."
1661: General Vestry of Lancaster county, Virginia, included David Fox;
also David Fox was a court appointed church warden
1669: Gift of chalice in the form of a solid silver goblet inscribed: "The gift of David Fox, 1669."
22 Jul 1670: married Hannah Ball, daughter of Col. Willliam Ball and Hannah (Atherold) Ball
1702: Gift of two of four tablets to St. Mary's by David Fox
SOURCE: Colonial Churches; A Series of Sketches of Churches in the Original Colony of VA, with Pictures of Each Church (ISBN: 9780217461054), Unknown Author
ST. MARY'S WHITE CHAPEL, LANCASTER COUNTY, VA
BY MRS. ELIZABETH LEWIS NEALE.
The earliest records of Lancaster County Parish, when Lancaster and Middlesex were one, go back to 1650. In that year the court appointed Rev. Samuel Cole the minister of the whole county, on both sides of the Rappahannock river. This minister's name appears on a Vestry Book of Middlesex county, Virginia, in 1664. The court also appointed church wardens and sidemen, as in the English Church, for each side of the river; they were John Taylor, William Chapman, John Merryman, Edmund Lurin, George Kibble and William Leech. Other names on the record are Thomas and Cuthbert Powell, Edward Digges, William Berkeley, Robert Chowning, Henry Corbin, DAVID FOX and John Washington of Westmoreland county.
In the year 1661 a general vestry was formed, and John Carter, Henry Corbin, DAVID FOX and Wm Leech were appointed, from both sides of the river, to take up subscriptions for the support of a minister. Many of our county records and the Vestry Book of St. Mary's and Christ churches were destroyed during the war "between the States," and we find no one who can tell us just the year old St. Mary's White Chapel was built; but of this we are sure, that it was sometime in the middle of the 17th century. This is assured by dates on the Communion plate, still in the church, and on tombstones to be found in a good state of preservation in the churchyard. Bishop Meade, from whom notes are herein taken, states in his book of "Old Churches, Ministers and Families of Virginia," that "the first church was torn down and the present one built in 1740." One might infer from this that the whole church "was torn down," which was not the case at all. It was first built, like her contemporary, Old Christ church, in the lower part of the county (or rather Old Christ was built like St. Mary's, for we are assured that St. Mary's is the older) in the form of a cross, with three galleries, one owned by Major James Ball and Mr. Joseph Ball; one by the Downmans, of Belle Isle, and one was for the slaves of the Churchmen. In 1739 the old church was in great need of a new roof and other repairs, and the congregation being at that time unable or unwilling to raise the large sum of money required, determined to take down two arms of the church and restore the rest. This was done in 1740, the contract being awarded Mr. James Jones. The structure was then made into an oblong square, 60 feet long, 30 feet broad, walls 24 feet to roof, which has an oval ceiling. The pulpit is in one end of the long aisle, facing the south door, over which is the one remaining gallery. In the center of the long aisle is a broader one leading to the double doors facing the west, towards the county road, which is the main entrance. These doors are fastened now, as in olden time, by an iron thumb latch.
The high pews and the pulpit, which had a stairway leading up to it, with a banister rail, were allowed to stand until prior to the Civil War, in the middle of the 19th century, when the pews were cut down, the high pulpit not being removed until 1882. In that year the old tablets were brought down from the gallery, where they had been laid in the dust, and restored at a cost of $100. Rev. H. L. Derby, then rector of the parish, was very active in having this done. They are four in number. Two contain the Ten Commandments and were the gift of DAVID FOX in 1702. The other two were given by his son, William Fox, and contain the Apostles' Creed and the Lord's Prayer. There is no date inscribed on these, but they were given in 1717, as shown by the will of Captain William Fox, dated 1717, and in which he directed: "My wife shall send for the Lord's Prayer and Creed, well drawn in gold letters, and my name under each of them, set in decent black frames, as a gift to St. Mary's White Chapel"; and he also left by his will to that church "the font that came in that year." That the wife carried out the will to the letter is proven by the tablets and font in the church, in splendid preservation to this day. The tablets are of solid walnut wood and the letters are hand-carved, cut in, and heavily gilded in gold gilt. They are oval at the top, with the square base, in keeping with the deep-seated windows and oval ceiling. The font, of unpolished marble, stands on a square base, which is exceedingly heavy, from which a round marble pedestal supports on its top the very large, round marble basin, all of which stands 4 feet 6 inches. The chalice is a solid silver goblet inscribed: "The gift of DAVID FOX, 1669."
George Spencer, by his will, dated March 23, 1691, gave 20 pounds sterling for a piece of communion plate for St. Mary's White Chapel, and also a "Curpice." The only other piece of silver in possession of the church is a small silver salver, which is used with the goblet. It is much worn by age and has no inscription or date, but we suppose that it is "that piece of plate."
The old Bible was given by Rawleigh Downman, of Belle Isle, in 1838. The beautiful circular Communion railing remains as in olden days, but the brick aisles have been planked and carpeted, as has the chancel, and fitted up with modern furniture. The old Communion table is still in the vestry room. It once stood in the chancel, and was covered with a green velvet cover with a gilt fringe, and in the center was the Ball coat-of-arms in bas-relief and done in gilt. This was sold years ago to one of the Downmans, whose maternal ancestor was a Ball.
In the churchyard are a number of old tombs of a massive marble, of the oldest are inscribed with the name of Ball. The first is David Ball, 7th son of William Ball, born 1686; some of the others are Mildred Ball, Juduthum Ball, Mary Ann Ball, daughter of Rev. John Bertrand, Jesse Ball, Mary Ball, d/o Edwin Conway, and James Ball, her husband; Fanny, daughter of Rawleigh Downman, of Lettuce, 3rd wife of James Ball and daughter of Richard Lee, of Ditchley.
These names show that this church counted among her numbers names of the old Virginia aristocrats of the 17th and 18th centuries. Among the Churchmen of the 18th century we will mention Chinn, Downman, Carter, Ball, Mitchell, Lee, Lewis, Ewell, McCarty, Towles, Chowning, Sneade, Pierce, Robinson and Chilton. The ministers were Rev. Samuel Cole, died 1659; Revs. William White and Benjamin Doggett, died 1682; John Bertrand, died 1701 (he was a Huguenot, is buried at Belle Isle, and counted among his descendants Judge Cyrus Griffith, last president of the Continental Congress); Andrew Jackson, died 1710; John Bell, died 1743; David Currie, died 1792; David Ball, died 1791. Then followed Leland, Page, McNorton, Low, 1832; Ephraim Adams, 1838; Francis McGuire, 1839; Rev. Bryant, 1844; Rev. Richmond, 1850; Rev. Nash, 1853; Rev. Edmund Withers. These were followed by Revs. George May, H. L. Derby, E. B. Burwell, Mr. Micou and the present rector, Rev. L. R. Combs.
In the corner of the churchyard is an old slab, flat on the ground and much broken, inscribed: "To Rev. Jno. Stritchley [sic-Stretchly], born 1669." Then follows a long illegible inscription. We have no record of his having served the church. Col. William Ball, who came to this county from England in 1650, settled at the mouth of the Corrotoman River, bringing his family. He died in 1669, leaving two sons and one daughter, Hannah, who married Daniel [sic DAVID] FOX. William left eight sons. Joseph Ieft no male issue, but Genl George Washington is his grandson by his youngest daughter, Mary. Mary Ball, grandmother of Washington, lies buried at "Epping Forest," five miles from the church, and a handsome oil picture of her adorns the walls of the court-room at Lancaster, the county seat. None of Col. William Ball's children are buried at the church, but his grandchildren and their descendants [are]. Joseph Ball married a Miss Ravenscroft, of England, and settled in London. He was brother of Mary Ball, who was the mother of Washington. His only daughter, Fannie, married Raleigh Downman in 1750. Her children were Joseph Ball Downman, of Morattico; Fannie, who married Col. James Ball, of Beaudley, and Mr. Raleigh Downman, of Belle Isle.
Mr. Joseph Ball wrote to his nephew, Geo Washington, after Braddock's defeat, the following letter:
Stratford, 5th of Sept., 1755.
It is a sensible pleasure to me to hear that you have behaved with such a martial spirit, in all your engagements with the French, nigh Ohio. Go on as you have begun, and God prosper you. We have heard of Gen. Braddock's defeat. Everybody blames his rash conduct. Everybody commends the courage of the Virginians and Carolina men, which is very agreeable to me. I desire you, as you may have opportunity, to give me a short account how you proceed. I am your mother's -brother. I hope you will not deny my request. I heartily wish you good success, and am
Your loving uncle,
joseph Ball
To Major George Washington, at the Falls of Rappahannock, 0r elsewhere in Virginia.
Please direct me at Stratford-by-Bow, nigh London.
Unlike most Colonial churches, St. Mary's did not suffer by the depredation of troops during the war 1861-5. The Federal gunboats came up the Rappahanock river, near where the church is located, and threw bomb shells over and around, cutting off the tree tops, but did not hit the church. A company of the Ninth VA Calvary, CSA, were stationed at the church for a few months in 1861, and had tents all around the church. Col. Merriwether Lewis was then captain, with Mr. Robert Tunstall Pierce as first lieutenant, and James K. Ball, of Beaudley, as second lieutenant. The three are today "sleeping" near each other in the churchyard, resting "on the old camp ground," and each has a monument to show the reverence and love the living bear to the honored dead.
In 1880 the church ladies organized a society called "The Bee Hive," and since that time have raised nearly a $1000, which has been spent on the church. Today both the interior and exterior present a neat and comfortable appearance, and to "the faithful few" who worship within her walls she seems
"A spot of earth supremely blest, Dearer, more sacred than all the rest."
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