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| ing as Church Wardens and Chose Messrs. Rhoda Adams and Jeremiah Gray in their stead. On the same day Mr. Warren Dent Delivered a Certificate of qualifica- tion of inspectors for ye Warehouse at Chicamuxen, viz. Richard Speake and Ignatius Luckett." The other Inspectors at the Chicamuxen Warehouse that year were Francis Boucher Franklin and John Madox. The Inspectors for the Ware- house in Nanjemoy were Reuben Dye, John Keibeard, William Dunnington and Thomas Perry.* Those were exciting times in the Ameri- can colonies, but there is no political refer- ence in the Vestry Book until page 9 when we find at the top of the page, under date of Nov. 15, 1775, reference to "his majes ties Customs," and at the bottom of the same page, under date of September 1776, a Certificate of the election of Tobacco In- spectors, addressed "To the Governor for the time being, or the Convention, or the Council of Safety." This was the last Ves- try meeting attended by Mr. Fendall. In November 1776, the old establishment ceased by an act taking away the pay of the clergy. After that we learn nothing more of the rector who, doubtless, left the Parish. Mr. Fendall is said to have been one of the best read clergymen of his times and is mentioned with distinction in an old memoir. He is said to have been an ardent advocate of American freedom. But his patriotism did not save him, as he went down with the other clergy. Turning again to the Vestry Book we next find the "Oath of Fidelity and sup- port to the State of Maryland." The first signatures to which in June, 1779, are Warren Dent, Gerard Fowl, Will. Harri- son, Will. Winter Jr., Will. Elgin, James Muncaster, Will. Adams. Then there is a Note - "The Death of Mr. Richard Speake happened before the Oath was copied into this Book which is the reason why his name is not subscribed. John Elgin, Reg'r." These signatures were renewed |
every year by the Vestrymen when elected. On September 6,1779, the Vestry resolved to raise a subscription to defray the charges of the Parish and a committee was ap- pointed to go to the Glebe and see what condition the said lands were in.+ In October, 1779, the Register was instructed to publish in the Annapolis and Baltimore papers this advertisement: "Twenty thou- sand pounds of Crop Tobacco annually will be given as a Salary to any clergyman of the Church of England of a fair charac- ter, and who can give Satisfaction as a Preacher, for the term of four years, by the Vestry of Durham Parish, which hath besides, a Glebe that rents for Two Hhds. of Crop Tobacco per annum." In re- sponse to this advertisement the Rev. Walter Hanson Harrison wrote a letter offering his services to the Parish on the terms set forth, which the Vestry accepted, and Mt Harrison agreed to come before the second Sunday in December. He was a native of the Parish and had been ordained by the Bishop of London and licensed for Maryland in 1774. Returning to America he became curate of St. Paul's, Prince George's County, where he re- mained until 1776 when he was made rector of Queen Anne Parish in that coun- ty. Coming to Durham in 1779 he con- tinued to hold the rectorship until 1797 a period of eighteen years. He died in 1798. "Parson Harrison" rented out the Glebe lands and lived on his own estate, "Holly Springs," which is to this day, one of the finest old places in the Parish. He built the house, but undoubtedly obtained the land by inheritance. Just before his death the estate was purchased by Capt. (after- ward Gen) Mitchell and here was the birthplace of the late Rev. Richard H. B. Mitchell and his brother Walter Mitch- ell. Their brother John H. T. S. Mitch- ell came into the Vestry in 1809. "Holly Springs is now owned by Mrs. Emily Millar, widow of the late Col. Thomas Millar, of Nanjemoy. |
* It
will soon be seen that there were two tobacco Warehouses in Durham Parish - one on the
land of Richard Harrison in Nanjemoy - Query, Was it located at "Nanjemoy
Stores"? - and the other on the land of William Smallwood in Chicamuxen. The
inspectors were appointed by the Vestry during the colonial period. How long these
Warehouses continued in existence, in uncertain. The Nanjemoy Warehouse is referred to in
the Vestry Book as late as 1810. |