Fauquier County VA

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Hedgman River Church Submitted by Jim Burgess

The Hedgman River Church has spurred some interest from fellow genealogist. I want to thank Tim and Vince Hackley for sending in the following information. Since I am a descendant of the Hedgman family I have posted information on the family in this same area. Please review that information. Anyone wanting to contribute to the conversation please email Jim Burgess Hedgman River Church - Does anyone know where the Hedgman River Church is/was in Frederick County? It had some kind of affiliation with Broad Run Baptist Church in Fauquier County in the early 1800s. Thanks very much, Rick Answer by Vince Hackley I believe the Hedgman's River Church was in Culpeper not Frederick Co. It may have been in Fauquier at one time. The Jeffersonton Baptist Church in northeastern Culpeper is (I believe) the descendent of Hedgman's. Woodford B. Hackley wrote a history of the Jeffersonton Baptist Church, and there is another book on antebellum churches of Culpeper which includes this church. The Hedgeman River and the Rappahannock are one and the same river. Vince. The Hedgman's River Church was founded in the 1770s in Fauquier County as an offshoot of the Carter's Run Baptist CHurch. The members living in Southern Fauquier wanted a closer church. There is a deed in the courthouse in Warrenton authorizing use of John Kelly's land for the construction of a house of worship. My understanding is that when they built the second church, it was actually on the Culpeper side of the river, although many members were from Fauquier, including Blackwells, Butlers, and Hoppers. John Hickerson was pastor from 1790-1809, leaving the church in Hartwood, Stafford Co., VA to preach at Hedgman's. Earlier preachers included John Pickett, jailed for preaching the gospel. Later one, the church did become the Jeffersonton Baptist Church, but the old records were burned in a house fire before 1900. I have been searching for some information on the membership, so any of you who had family who were members, I'd like to talk with you. Tim Hedgman River "Fauquier County, Virginia 1759-1959", by the Fauquier County Bicentennial Committe, Warrenton, Virginia. page 14. "1715 - Nathaniel Hedgman, 750 acres on the north side of the Rappahannock River. His two sons, Peter and Nathaniel Jr. in 1724 increased this holding to 4,800 acres by taking grants on the north side. The Hedgman acquisitions proved more important historically than any yet made, as the North Fork of the Rappahannock was soon to be come know by Hedgman's name and the quarter establisheded by his sons between Tin Pot Runand the river below the mouth of Great Run survived as a landmark far into the century. page 27. "Leeds Manor included 112,8562 acres (less Burgess survey) from the mouth of Carter's Run, up Hedgman's River to Happy Creek Gap, thence across the Blue Ridge to Shenandoa, down that river and back via Ashby's Gap and the Carter, Ball and Scott boundaries to Carter's Run." page 47." ...Runs flowing into the Rappanahnock River. " "Rappahannock - North Fork of the Rappahannock became known as Hedgman's river in 1715 when Nathaniel Hedgman patented two large areas on the north side. In later years this for was called Rappahannock and the South Fork diesguished as Rapidan. Rappahannock means "Quick Rising Water". Later, the church did become the Jeffersonton Baptist Church, but the old records were burned in a house fire before 1900. I have been searching for some information on the membership, so any of you who had family who were members, I'd like to talk with you. There were some Hackleys in this church, and I remember writing to the church and receiving some records. They were not pre-1800's records, but still may be useful to you. The Woodford Hackley history of the church was available directly from the church itself. I purchased a copy while visiting them a few years ago. The book is really a pamphlet, and is entitled "Jeffersonton Baptist Church, Bicentennial Sketch 1773-1973". On another topic....we've spoke before, and so I know about the book you are working on....if you come across any Methodist records for Fauquier Co. I would be interested. My family (Hackleys, Harrells) appear to have been mostly Methodist, but some Baptists. They lived along the Rappahannock River, and so they pop up on both sides in the records. Another topic.....do you know where Routt's Hill is located in Fauquier ?? My gg-grandad's brother resided there, and I've not been able to locate it on a map. It would help me greatly to see where it lies in relation to the Jeffersonton/Rixeyville area in Culpeper. Vince Hackley Vince Hackley Peter Hedgman Will Will posted by V Phelps on Rootsweb 2 May 2000. I Peter HEDGMAN do make this my last Will and Testament, in manner and form following: hereby revoking and making void all wills which I have heretofore made. I do therefore hereby Give and Devise all my land in the county of Stafford, with the following Twenty seven Negroes, which now reside upon the same, to WIT, PHILL, WINNY, MOSES, JACK, CHARLES, PHILL, FRANK, JEAN, TOM, WILL the Elder, WILL the Younger, SARAH, LUCY, JAMES, SUKY, JUDY the Elder, JUDY the Younger, BETTY, TONY, BESS, HARRY, JOSEPH, TOM the Younger, JERY, DAVID, RACHEL, and AARON with their future Increase to my Son William HEDGMAN and the heirs of his Body Lawfully Begotten forever and in default of such heirs, I Give the Lands and Negroes aforesaid with their future increase unto John KNOX of Falmouth in King George County, Merchant and to his heirs forever. Item: I Give unto my Grandson John HEDGMAN the Sum of five Pounds to be paid to him by my Executors hereafter named, which Sum of five Pounds, is all I intend my said Grandson shall Inherit of my estate. Item: I give unto Margaret McCORMICK wife of Stephen McCORMICK, four hundred acres of Land in the county of Fauquier, whereon is now two Tenements occupied by William TURNER and James TURNER, likewise one hundred acres of Land adjoining the same which will take in the whole or part of what James GRIMSLY formerly lived on, so as to make the whole Lands to her hereby devised a Tract of five hundred acres which I Give unto her and to the heirs of her body Lawfully Begotten forever and in default of such heirs, I Give the said five hundred acres of Land unto my Son William HEDGMAN, and to the heirs of his Body Lawfully begotten forever and in default of such heirs, I Give the said five hundred Acres of Land unto the aforesaid John KNOX and to his heirs forever. Item: I Give unto the aforesaid Margaret McCORMICK the following five negroes with their future increase, to wit, CHARLES, NICK, JAMES, SARAH, BETTY which said five Negroes now live at my Quarters in Fauquier County under Stephen McCORMICK my Overseer, and I desire they may be Annexed to the five hundred Acres of Land which I have Given her and that they may devolve with the same as above directed. I likewise give unto the aforesaid Margaret McCORMICK a sorrel Mare called Jenny, six Cows and six Calves, two feather Beds and their Furniture besides the Bed I have at Merryhill Quarter, which I Give to her and her heirs. Item: I Give unto my Daughter in Law, Frances HEDGMAN, the three following Negroes which now live at my Plantations in Stafford County, to wit, HANNAH, NAN, and DICK with their future Increase to her and her Heirs forever, I likewise Give unto my Daughter in Law aforesaid Two feather Beds, with their Furniture, a dressing Glass, a small Table, my Dining Chair and a Bay Mare. Item: I Give and Devise unto the aforesaid John KNOX five hundred acres of Land in the county of Fauquier, which he himself may choose out of my lands in the said county, so as to take in my Plantation called Merryhill, whereon Stephen McCORMICK is now overseer, which I Give unto him the said John KNOX and to his heirs forever I likewise give unto the said John KNOX, the eight Negroes following, to wit, HARRY, LAWRENCE the younger, WINNY, JEFFREY, FRANK, JEANNY, ISAAC and CHARLES, which said Negroes except Isaac now live at my Quarter in Fauquier County, where George DANHILL is Overseer, and which said Negroes I Give unto John KNOX and to his heirs, I likewise Give unto the aforesaid John KNOX, Eight cows and Eight Calves. Item: I Give unto Alexander KNOX, Brother to the said John KNOX, one Negroe Girl named KATE, Sister to the Negro Isaac above mentioned, with her future increase, and to his heirs forever. Item: I Give unto Stephen McCORMICK my Overseer the Still and Worm at Merry hill Quarter. Item: my Intent and desire is that in case the said Stephen McCORMICK should Survive his wife, Margaret, that then he shall enjoy the use of everything I have left her during his natural life and then to go as before directed. Item: I Give unto my Daughter in Law Frances HEDGMAN the Sum of Two hundred pounds current money. Item: I Give unto Thomas TRIPLETT the Sum of One hundred and fifty Pounds current money. Item: I Give unto James TRIPLETT One hundred and fifty pounds current money. Item: I Give unto Alvin MOUNTJOY (Son to William MOUNTJOY) the Sum of Sixty pounds current money. Item: I Give unto James MARKHAM the Sum of sixty Pounds current money. But I desire these five last Legacies amounting to the Sum of six hundred and twenty Pounds current money shall only be paid to the Respective Legatees in two years after my decease out of my Estate as I hereafter directed. Item: I Give and Devise all my Lands adjoyning and below the Marsh Run in the county of Fauquier unto the aforesaid John KNOX and to his heirs forever. But this upon condition that he pays the money Legacies left above amounting to six hundred and twenty pounds current money and that he pays all my Just Debts and funeral expenses. Otherwise upon his refusing so to do I desire the said Lands adjoining and lying below the Marsh Run in Fauquier County may be Sold by my Executors hereafter named for these Purposes and if the money arising from the Sale thereof shall not be sufficient to discharge the same Then I desire my Executors may sell what part of my Estate they Judge proper for these Purposes always excepting the whole Legacies Lands and Negroes which I have already Given and devised by this my ?last will? which I desire may pass entire to the different Legatees and afterwards I Give and Devise the whole Remainder of my Lands and Negroes unto my Son William HEDGMAN and to the heirs of his Body Lawfully begotten forever and in default of such heirs I Give and Devise the same unto the aforesaid John KNOX and his heirs forever. I likewise Give unto my Son William HEDGMAN all the Remainder of my Estate of what kind soever that is not already disposed off by this my Will. Lastly I declare this to be my last Will and Testament which is written & contained on this and the three preceding Pages and of the same do appoint my Son William Hedgman, the aforesaid John KNOX, William KNOX and Stephen McCORMICK, the Survivor or Survivors of them Executors. In Testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this twenty ninth day of November in the year of our Lord On thousand seven hundred and sixty four. Peter HEDGMAN {seal} Signed, Sealed & declared and Published by the Testator as his last Will and Testament in Presence of us Michael WALLACE Demar THOMPSON Alex CUNNINGHAM Jas BUCHANAN James PATON Gavin LAWSON William ALLASON William KNOX The word "Will" in the first line of this Will being wanting betwixt the words "Last" & "and" was inserted above the said line before Signing. At a Court held for Stafford County August the 12th 1765. The last Will and Testament of Peter HEDGMAN Gent. deced., was Presented into Court by John KNOX, one of the Executors therein named, who made Oath thereto according to Law and being further Proved by the Oaths of Michael WALLACE, Demar THOMPSON, Alexander CUNNINGHAM, James BUCHANAN, James PATON, Gavin LAWSON, & William ALLASON seven of the Witnesses, thereto is Admitted to Record and on Motion of the said Executor, and he Performing what is usual in such cases, Certificate is Granted him for Obtaining a Probate thereof in due form and it is Ordered that Gilson FOOTE and Hannah his wife, Guardians to John HEDGMAN heir at Law to the said Peter, be Summoned to Contest the Will of the said Peter. Test, Henry TYLER C.S.C. The following needs to be documented before being accepted as being true. While attending the 1998 National Genealogy Society I heard the following subject given in a talk. Basically Lord Fairfax had King Carter as his overseer of his vast property in Lancaster County, Virginia. At one point in time Lord Fairfax became frustrated with King Carter in that King Carter was taking advantage of King Carter. Lord Fairfax decided that he would give another man the opportunity to serve as his overseer. I believe that man was Nathaniel Hedgman our ancestor who lived in Lancaster County, Virginia at the time. Apparently our Nathaniel Hedgman was dishonest or any way he did not please King Carter and Nathaniel Hedgman was released. King Carter was put back into power and Nathaniel Hedgman was let go.
Last Updated: April 2020

Hedgman River Church