My earliest recollections of the Church are derived from visits, while yet a child, to the Old Stone Chapel in Frederick County, (then the back-woods of Virginia,) either on horseback, behind my father, or with my mother and the children in my grandmother’s English chariot, drawn by four work-horses in farming-gear, -- richer gear having failed with failing fortunes. ... My father took an active part in the erection of this house, which was about seven miles distant from his residence. [19]
My father had considerable possessions in land and servants in Lower Virginia, but lost nearly all during the War of the Revolution, in which he served as aid to General Washington. At the close of it, gathering up what little remained of his money, and a very few servants, he removed to the rich and beautiful Valley of Frederick, laying between the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains. The whole country was little else than a forest at that time. For a small sum he purchased a farm, with two unfinished log rooms, around which the wolves nightly howled. Laying aside the weapons of war, he took himself to hard work with the axe, the maul, and other instruments, while my mother exchanged luxuries and ease of Lower Virginia for the economy and diligence of a Western housewife. [19-20]
My mother also (as was the case with many others) made her children get and repeat some of the hymns of the Prayer Book, especially Bishop Ken’s, for morning and evening, and repeat some short prayer at her bedside. [21]
When there was no service at the chapel or we were prevented from going, my father read the service and a sermon; and whenever a death occurred among the servants he performed the burial service himself, and read Blair's Sermon on Death the following Sunday. Of the character and conduct of the old clergy generally I have often heard them speak in terms of strong condemnation. My father, when a young man, was a vestryman in Prince George county, Virginia, but resigned his place rather than consent to retain an unworthy clergyman in the parish. [22]
I remember when either of my sisters would be at all rude or noisy, my mother would threaten them with Blair’s Sermon on gentleness. [25]
I had, however, throughout the State many most respectable and influential relatives, some still rich, others of fallen fortunes, both on my father’s and mother’s side, who were still attached to the Church. My parents, too, were very popular persons, and had many friends and acquaintances throughout Virginia, who still lingered around the old Church. [30]
I knew [Mr Burwell Bassett] from my very boyhood as my father’s friend and visitor. [185]
General Nelson, several of the Lees and Randolphs, George Gilmer, my own father and two of his brothers [David and Everard], and many besides who might be mentioned, just got back in time [from england] to prepare for the Revolutionary struggle. [191]
In my early youth I remember to have heard my parents speak of [Lynnhaven Parish, Princess Anne County] as having what is called the best society in Virginia. The families were interesting, hospitable, given to visiting and social pleasures. [250]
The talented and unhappy Dr. Dodd, of London, used to preach at Harrow to the boys of that school. I have seen his sermons to them, and heard my father speak of his eloquence. When he was executed, the boys of the school were either sent or permitted to go. ... I may be permitted to add concerning my father, that while at the school his teacher said of him that he would never make a great scholar, but he will be what is much better, - vir probus. [293]
The year before the death of Washington, my father paid him a visit at Mount Vernon. They had not met since the close of the war. The general was on his farm. They met in one of the fields, near a pair of draw-bars. Each, recognizing the other, dismounted and shook hands over them, the General insisting that he would pull down this own bars, and my father that he would be his aide still. [296]
Soon after my father’s death, my mother sent me to Princeton College. [424]
Being amongst the dismissed, and returning home and unable to justify the act, my mother, who was of the old Virginia school, hesitated not to send me back again, with acknowledgment of error and promise of future good behavior. Nor did I hesitate to obey, for the habit of submission to her authority had been established from my earliest years. [424]
The earlier part of my mother’s life was spent under [David Stuart]’s ministry, and I have often heard her speak in high praise of him. [187]
In the year 1794, his estate in lands was 9700 acres. My father’s farm lay beside it. I have a letter from my father in that year to Mr. Charles Carter, of Shirly, on James River, who, it seems, thought of moving to Frederick, urging him to purchase it, as Colonel Martin had determined to sell. [284]
On an election or court-day at Fairfax Court-House, I once, in passing to or from the upper country, found Mr Weems, with a bookcaseful for sale, in the portico of the tavern. On looking at them I saw Paine’s “Age of Reason,” and, taking it into my hand, turned to him, and asked if it was possible that he could sell such a book. He immediately took out the Bishop of Llandaff’s answer, and said, “Behold the antidote. The bane and antidote are both before you.” He carried this spurious charity into his sermons. In my own pulpit at the old chapel, in my absence, it being my Sunday in Winchester, he extolled Tom Paine and one or more noted infidels in America, and said if their ghosts could return to the earth they would be shocked to hear the falsehoods which were told of them. I was present the following day, when my mother charged him with what she had heard of his sermon, and well remember that even he was confused and speechless. [235]
My father was emphatically an upright man. I remember to have heard him say that his teacher the Master of a grammar school in England used to tell him that tho he would not be a learned scholar, he would be what was far better--vir probus. My Father evidentally took great pleasure in the thought that he was universally esteemed, what he really was, a man of great integrity, and without setting it in opposition to religion, took great pains to bring up his children in a high admiration of the “vir probus.” [3]
On my Mother devolved the religious education of the children and faithfully did she perform that duty. [3]
A favorite topic with [my Mother], was, the continual presence of God, a consciousness of which she wished to have ever in our minds. I felt the effects of this at a very early period. [4]
...when about seventeen years of age my Father being dead, my Mother sent me to Princeton College. [4]
I read the few books I took with me with deep feeling--particularly Young Night Thoughts, a great favorite of my Mother and elder sister. I remember however that my religion partook very much of a communion with the spirit of my deceased Father and my absent Mother, whom I was ever regarding as being present with me and whose approbation I was earnestly seeking. [5]
My Mother whose authority was well established over her children, had only to express her desire that I should return [to Princeton] and make any acknowledgment [of wrongdoing] that might be required. It was done without a murmur. How often have I blessed God for giving me such a Mother, and for this act of maternal authority especially. It probably gave me the direction to all my subsequent life. [5]
As it was, on returning to an allmost desolate college, and humbled at thought of the injury our own folly had done to it, my religious feelings were greatly strengthened, and this was so apparent in my letters homeward that I soon received a letter from my elder sister Mrs. Page conveying to me the suggestion of our beloved Mother that I should seriously consider whether the ministry was not the path of duty. [5]
My Mother gave me a small farm out of order, much injured by the tenant, and without a house on it. [7]
From my very boyhood indeed I recollect hearing my Father and Mother speak of the sad condition of [the state of the Church in Virginia] in their youthful days--my Mother of things in Norfolk--my Father of the evil character of a clergyman in the parish of Prince George where he was a vestryman, but resigned in disgust. [9]
I preached from this time and for many years after alternately at a little stone chapel about seven miles off, which my Father and others built soon after the war, and a similar one in Winchester. [13]
I remember too how when I first entered the ministry many of my Father’s and Mother’s old friends thought it the merest madness and folly and indeed for a long time many things I said and did out of the old track were ascribed to partial insanity. It used to be said my Father was once bit by a mad dog, and there was a vein of excentricity in some members of the family. [15]
